CSO Gospel Choir opens season Sept. 21

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Gospel Choir and the Berkeley County Chorus are pleased to present “The Wind and the Mockingbird: How the Written Word Changed Society,” a concert theme inspired by literary works Gone With the Wind and To Kill A Mockingbird on Saturday Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at Cane Bay High School, Summerville as part of a special CSO Gospel Choir/Berkeley County School District musical and educational partnership.

Through dramatic gospel music and historical narration, this performance is inspired by two best-selling literary novels that helped change the tone and course of U.S. race relations.

The CSO Gospel Choir’s 2013-2014 season opening performance highlights the work of two female authors each of whom only wrote one seminal work in their lifetime: Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel “Gone With the Wind,” a sweeping depiction of the privileged South during the Civil War and Harper Lee’s 1960 “To Kill A Mockingbird,” a personal account of racial heroism set in the Deep South during the Depression. Music and narration will honor these award-winning works that wielded enormous influence in changing America’s view of race relations, prejudice and injustice with their portrayal of strong African-American characters, both later brought to the big screen to massive public appeal.

“The opportunity to bring our students and community together through a world-class music and literature event with the CSO Gospel Choir is an amazing gift,” Archie Franchini, deputy superintendent for the Berkeley County School District, said. “We are thrilled that music professionals are working with our students in this capacity and that we can host this event for the Cane Bay community.”

The performance will feature more traditional gospel selections including “Walk Around Heaven All Day,” “May The Work I’ve Done Speak For Me,” along with historical narration that illustrates the transformational power of literature and its ability to alter the attitudes of a nation gripped by a history of racial inequality.

“The written word has often shown us how to do the right thing. Most people remember the southern depiction of domestic help as the traditional role afforded black Americans. Both literary settings were strong but one so sweeping it provided the platform for the first Academy Award for a black actor,” said Lee Pringle, producer and CSO Gospel Choir president.

This performance is dedicated to former Berkeley County District music teachers Mildred Brevard and Mary Quinney.

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